No one has heard Roman Abramovich’s views on football, but clapping Fernando
Torres off the pitch against Arsenal yesterday will farther polarise opinion
of the Chelsea owner among the club’s fans already vexed by a string of
ruthless decisions this season.

Some left Stamford Bridge believing that the striker had been at his most
willing for a while, but the vast majority picked out his wild lash at a
loose ball, which looked like something from a children’s playground, as
evidence that he should not be in the starting line-up.